Stonewall, Lawsuit, Homicide Charge Follow Fatal ATV Mishap

By CURTIS LEEDS

September 9, 2019 at 1:00 PM

Content Options

Hunterdon County Counsel Shana Taylor said the refusals to provide public accident records were 'not intentional.'Hunterdon County Counsel Shana Taylor said the refusals to provide public accident records were ...Credits: Curtis Leeds / TAPinto Flemington file photo

Hunterdon County Counsel Shana Taylor said the refusals to provide public accident records were 'not intentional.'Hunterdon County Counsel Shana Taylor said the refusals to provide public accident records were ...Credits: Curtis Leeds / TAPinto Flemington file photo

Hunterdon County Counsel Shana Taylor said the refusals to provide public accident records were 'not intentional.'Hunterdon County Counsel Shana Taylor said the refusals to provide public accident records were ...Credits: Curtis Leeds / TAPinto Flemington file photo

By CURTIS LEEDS

September 9, 2019 at 1:00 PM

FLEMINGTON, NJ – Imagine that your close friend or family member died in an accident, and officials not only wouldn’t tell you how the wreck happened, but that they wouldn’t even confirm the death.

That’s exactly what happened to some of those close to William D. Hildebrant, the 34-year-old Califon resident who officials now say died after being thrown from an ATV driven illegally by Christopher T. Rafano in Clinton Township on July 28.

Court records show that Rafano has been charged with vehicular homicide, something township and county officials still haven’t revealed.

After the wreck, police released information identifying Rafano and some of the 12 charges he faced. And while it mentioned that two people were injured, officials didn’t reveal the circumstances, who else was involved, or even that Hildebrant, who was flown to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, died the next day.

Multiple people close to Hildebrant told TAPinto that their requests to the township for details were refused. Requests for copies of the accident report – which are public in New Jersey – were also denied, they said.

That’s when TAPinto filed its own request for information under the state’s Open Public Records Act and other public records laws.

Clinton Township Municipal Clerk Carla Connor refused to release any information at all about the incident, even though the request specifically listed the state statutes that required the release. She referred inquiries to the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office.

The Prosecutor’s Office provided some information – which TAPinto has reported – but refused to release information about the accident itself, claiming the records were “exempt” from public release as it conducted a criminal probe.

But the stonewall didn’t end there. In his denial, Acting Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey L. Weinstein said he also reserved the right “to raise any other grounds for denial" not already raised in his refusal.

In response, TAPinto Flemington filed suit for the records in state Superior Court, naming both Clinton Township and the Prosecutor’s Office.

The suit, filed on behalf of TAPinto by CJ Griffin of the Hackensack-based law firm Pashman Stein, noted that the law cited by Weinstein as an excuse for his denial of the records “expressly says that they are not confidential.”

After receiving a copy of the lawsuit, officials finally released the “exempt” records. In an email, Hunterdon County Counsel Shana Taylor said the records “were mistakenly denied” and that it was “not intentional.” She characterized the multiple failure to provide the records as an “oversight.”

The accident

The newly released records show that what started as an apparent fun ride then went horribly wrong.

Rafano, a 40-year-old Readington resident who owns Sweet Melissa’s Patisserie on Payne Road in Clinton Township, was driving a 2019 Polaris Sport ATV on Kiceniuk Road 9:10 p.m. Although the vehicle wasn’t licensed or insured for driving on the road, Rafano had three others on the ATV with him. In addition to Hildebrant, Rafano was joined by his wife, Melissa Murphy, 48, and Alison B. Ward, 41, who lives on Kiceniuk Road. None of them were wearing helmets.

When Patrol Officer Jenn Petruzziello arrived, Rafano had already left the scene, the report states. She also then found that although Hildebrant landed on the road after the crash, he’d already been moved off the road and onto the grass.

According to the report, Rafano was driving west on Kiceniuk when the ATV hit a dip in the road caused by a sewer grate. Rafano continued driving straight but Hildrebrant, who was riding on the right rear of the vehicle, couldn’t hold on, leading to his injury.

The ATV was towed and impounded by police. Rafano was sent to Hunterdon Medical Center for treatment; the results of drug/alcohol tests ordered of his blood and urine are listed as pending on the report.

FLEMINGTON, NJ – Thousands flocked to Stangl Road here yesterday to join in the kick-off of the Central Jersey Jazz Festival, an event that will continue today in New Brunswick from 1 to 6 p.m. and in Somerville on Sunday, also from 1 to 6 p.m.

As with the Flemington show, all performances are free. Those attending should supply their own chairs. Food vendors are available at all three ...

FLEMINGTON, NJ – Thousands flocked to Stangl Road here yesterday to join in the kick-off of the ...

HIGH POINT, NC - The High Point Rockers (31-30, 72-59) overcame an early deficit to top the Somerset Patriots (22-39, 64-67) 5-1 Friday night at BB&T Point

Somerset jumped in front with a two-out rally in the top of the first inning. Olmo Rosario started the rally with a base hit up the middle before Jimmy Paredes lined an RBI double to right-center field, putting the Patriots ahead ...

HIGH POINT, NC - The High Point Rockers (31-30, 72-59) overcame an early deficit to top the ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Nat Adderley Jr., best known for his work with Luther Vandross, will headline the closing night of the three-day Central Jersey Jazz Festival Sunday, Sept. 15 from 4:45-6 p.m. on the East Main Street stage adjacent to the green surrounding the historic Somerset County Courthouse.

Opening the 5-hour concert will be tenor saxaphonist Javon Jackson (1:30-2:40 p.m.), followed by ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Nat Adderley Jr., best known for his work with Luther Vandross, will headline the ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ – As the people of the Bahamas begin to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Dorian left the islands reeling from the devastation, the local Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen is working to raise funds that will aid in the long recovery process.

Bishop James F. Checchio has authorized a special collection at all parishes in the Diocese of Metuchen the weekend of Sept. 14 and 15, ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ – As the people of the Bahamas begin to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Dorian ...

The Patriots jumped put to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Olmo Rosario started the scoring with an RBI single, followed by an RBI fielder’s choice by Jimmy Paredes. Edwin Espinal then launched a two-run home run (7) to left field to ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have acquried right-handed Taylor Wright in a trade with the Evansville Otters (Frontier League) for future considerations. He is active for tonight’s game against the Sugar Land Skeeters.

Wright enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. The 6’5” righty spent his first professional season this year with the ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have acquried right-handed Taylor Wright in a trade with the ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – Somerset County business and civic leaders will welcome representatives from the Howard County, Maryland Chamber of Commerce for an Inter-City Visit and Leadership Conference from Sunday, Sept. 15th, to Tuesday, Sept. 17th..

The Howard County Chamber will bring 20 to 30 business and civic leaders along with County Executive Calvin Ball and elected and appointed officials. The ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – Somerset County business and civic leaders will welcome representatives from the ...

SOMERVILLE , NJ – The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders has proclaimed September 2019 as National Recovery Month.

The proclamation was presented by Freeholder Director Brian D. Levine at the Sept. 10 freeholders’ meeting and accepted by Rocky Schwartz of Prevention Resources Inc. Also joining in the presentation were county Human Services Director Michael J. Frost; county Alcoholism ...

SOMERVILLE , NJ – The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders has proclaimed September 2019 as ...